Q:Where can I get bare root roses and is now the time to plant them?Also, when do I trim back (the lower branches) of a Japanese black pine? H.T.C., Dallas.

A:Many of the local nurseries have, or will soon have, bare root roses for sale. However, most would agree that planting container roses is a much better way to go. You will also have more success and less frustration by planting antique and other easy to maintain roses. They are available now and should planted as soon as possible. Print off a copy of the entire Organic Rose Program below:

Organic Rose Program 2011

Roses are actually easy to grow and should only be grown organically since they are one of the best medicinal and culinary herbs in the world. When they are loaded with toxic pesticides and other chemicals, this use is gone, or at least, it should be. Drinking rose hip tea or using rose petals in teas or salads sprayed with synthetic poisons is a really bad idea. For best results with roses of any kind, here's the organic program that really works.SELECTION

Buy and plant well-adapted roses for your area. Old roses will have the largest and most vitamin C filled hips. They are also the most fragrant and the best looking bushes for landscape use. However, any roses can be grown with this program.PLANTING

Prepare rose beds by mixing the following into existing soil to form a raised bed: 6 compost, ½ lava sand, ½ of decomposed granite, 20 lbs. of dry molasses, 20 lbs. of whole ground cornmeal, 30 lbs. zeolite and 20 lbs. of sul-po-mag per 1,000 sq. ft. Remove all the soil from the root balls and soak the bare roots in water with Garrett Juice and one of the mycorrhizal fungi products such as THRIVE per label directions. Spread roots out radiating from the trunk and settle the soil around plants with water. For root stimulation, Garrett Juice and THRIVE can be added to the soaking water or added when watering in the plants. Use the products at the same mixing rates used for spraying.MULCHING

After installing the plants, cover all the soil in the beds with ½ - 1 inch of compost or earthworm castings followed by 2 - 3" of shredded native tree trimmings mulch. Do not pile the mulch up on the stems of the roses.WATERING

If possible, save and use rainwater for irrigation. If not, add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per gallon of water or Garrett Juice at half spray mix rate.FEEDING SCHEDULE